After two months of enjoying the hustle and bustle of a big city (read: Living in Bangkok Thonglor), it was time for a different trip. But where to go? What is the best weekend getaway from Bangkok?
There is the historic city of Ayutthaya, just 80km north of Bangkok, however, I was there two years ago already. Then there is the most popular beach, Hua Hin, a 3 hours drive south from Bangkok. But was I ready for the beach?
Luckily some friends came to the rescue, inviting me to come for a weekend getaway from Bangkok, to the Kaeng Krachan National Park. Ok, I said. Let’s go!
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Kaeng Krachan National Park
With one of the biggest range of wild animals, covering an area of 2914 km2, the Kaeng Krachan National Park is a very popular travel destination for locals. Especially for camping. Who would have thought! Luckily for me, my friends booked a really nice guesthouse, right amongst the National Park and the wildlife. I was feeling relaxed already.
The drive there, however, was quite long, mainly because of the heavy traffic in Bangkok. It took almost two hours just to get out of the city, so I was definitely ready to cool down in the pool and relax.
Spending the weekend in Kaeng Krachan National Park more than made up for it. I had never experienced a jungle quite like this one. The rainforests of Queensland were incredible too, of course, but this felt completely different. It was really beautiful!
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What to do?
So, what is there to do, in the middle of nowhere? Well, relax of course. From enjoying a quiet morning coffee, to hanging out at the pool with my little friends and exploring the pineapple farms, being out of the big city is already relaxing in itself. The air is fresher, the stars are brighter and the wildlife more active. My weekend getaway from Bangkok was perfect!
I wonder if I get to see some elephants?
In addition, one of the must see of the Kaeng Krachan National Park is the Pala-U Waterfall. Walking the 700m path along the waterfall is fun, although at times quite slippery. But, with plenty of ropes available to hold on to and stops to dip your feet into the water, it is a great and safe way to enjoy the jungle. What a great afternoon!
And although I haven’t spotted wild elephants during my stay, I had a young photographer assistant, who, after some careful camouflage, was able to take awesome pics of a beautiful butterfly, the Banded Peacock. That counts as a wild animal as well, doesn’t it?
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